NYC Team of the Year lock forward John Asiata has joined the North Queensland Cowboys’ NRL squad on a two-year contract.

The 20-year-old has started full-time training with the Cowboys after making his move north from the Sydney Roosters where he was coached during the 2013 under-20s season by new North Queensland head coach Paul Green.

A junior with the Wentworthville club, Asiata made his NYC debut in round four of the 2012 competition and played 17 matches in his rookie season before turning out for the Roosters in 19 matches in the recently completed season .

His outstanding form during his second year, including being ranked No.1 in the Roosters’ forward pack for metres gained per match and third overall for linebreak assists, saw him included for the first time in the NYC’s Team of the Year.